Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-09

| DETERMINATION ON THE PART ar Yur psrrnsc4
COMMISSIONERS 10 BRRAK uP suNpAr TRAFFIC m
EVERYTHING EXCEPT MEDICINES AND orHKa xpc1s-
sARY ARTICLES, Such As coFFINs.
The District Commissioner, at their session YES.
terday afternoon decided to instruct the polace "a
| enforce the old corporation ordinances recurring
that business establishments, with the exception
OF few cases stated In the law be closed on SUM-
day. formal order to this effect will be drawn
up ana ISSUED next Monday. SO that those inter-
ested Will have weeks notice The main prpyfs-
ION OF the Sunday laws. the enforcement OF which
the commissioners had in view, was the following.
Hon corporation ordnance OF December 9 1854
anI saal net be lawful for person to keep open
during the ssSs sSs as OF any Sg
for te n tine 81 Of medicines and
s sae s e.
ers Of osrber,shops and har-rsssins essablishmSt.
sss aaer n p: .Ss 81
each oense Be liable 70 ths ree y offending :e e.
the fonn go one half of which zine shall be paid
WHAT COMMISSIONER WEBB SAYS ABOUT THE LAW
"The impression" said Commissioner webb to a
STAR reporter to-day 'Jhat the Commissioners have
oeen hunting for some old law. or that this Is
Dlue law, Is incorrect. This law has been en-.
,oice0 10 the past. 1t was revived here in 1871,
uSe." ~
but In Georgetown, said Commissioner Wheat
VINO was sitting by Mr. Webb. so law similar
10 snat Is enforced TO this day."
me me- determination to enforce the general Sum-
DAY law" said Mr.. Webb s.has grown out or the
n attempt OF the commissioners to close the
liluor saloons on Sunday. Liquor was sold on
Sunoay, apparently, as freely as on any other day.
,. nS commissioners you know, made an order
tnat upon Inc second conviction OF liuuor dealer
Tor the violation OF the Sunday law his icenS for
the year should be revoked This measure we
Nope Nope w 7; stop the sale Of liquor sundays
LAW as IL applies to liquor sellers and not against
cigar dealers, news dealers, and others. The
nqaor deaer Is engaged 10 Just as legitimate an
TINS Is not blue law, and 1t is not merely from
relglonists view OF the matter that the Commits
sloners look at It, We think 1t is light that every
person should have at least one DAYS rest out of
seven; The Laws were passed partly to secure
When The STAR reporter suggested that there
was some question whether the law quoted was
vand, as IL was stated that 1t lacked the mayors
Signature, MI Webb said, "lf the law is not valid
that 1s Tor the courts to determine. The law Is
there for US to enforce II this law is not good
there are others to bring the prosecutions unGer
NIX. "HEATLEf ON THE BUSINESS kFFzCT OF TRE Law.
MI. Wheatley, speaking OF the business aspect
OF the law said: 'There is but small minority OF
merchants and dealers that keep their places open
on sunday. They do this to the disadvantage OF
otDers who prefer to close on that day, as neces.
saEiy Inc stores that are open attract away some
CITY YOU Will find green grOcers and butchers That
keep their places open during part OF Sunday at
| ACdots AuC OUucE Gay q OutcQer In the market
came to US and complained that the opening OF
places on sunday damaged the business interests
VI oealers Id the MARKET He had noticed, he said,
tnat persons who formerly obtained their sup
plies for sunday at the market Saturday night no
longer came to the MARKET"
A CONFERENCE
little before noon to-day Major Moore and Mr..
Padgett, assistant attorney for the District. had
conference as to the law under which prosecu-
lions could be begun, and talked over the general
subject OF the observance OF Sunday Major Moore
1nStanced as a fragrant case the ra1t that pool
IOos In the rear OF cigar shops were open Oh Sun
At this conference the condition OF the laws
were Talked over, and an Investigation showed
tnat II was doubtful whether the law OF 1854,
quoted above was valid, as there was no record OF
| It's approval by the mayor.
Law WHICH IT 1s CLAIMED Is VALID
A law was found, however, under which It was
claimed the police could act, it having been duly
signed by Mayor Seaton. This is the corporation
law OF November 1, 1S43. The section In question
reads as follows:
That all keepers of ordinaries or tayerns shall be-
ana they are hereby prohibited from selling all Kinds
day, and all keepers Of ordinances tavefns aud u.
are hereby required to have their bars
tIs q II O'Clock n and O'Clock M oes al
&c are hereby required keep their
entire day and evening and for the rss voaion os
any of the requirements of this oct the person 30
than twenty dollars and for the second ofense lie
fine and forfeit their licenses, which shall BE- snnuled
GOING 10 MAKE THE vIoLAroRs OF LAW rREnB1E.
When Major Moore left the Commissioners Of
fee he took with him the old manuscript record
OF this law Of 1s43 observing to a STAR reporter,
laughing, and shaking his fist: ri viii go to my
office now, look over the law and prepare to make
these violators OF the Sunday law tremble."
MR.. PADGETT, EXPLAINING THH Law
to STAR reporter, said, ''This Law OF 1854 was
enacted to take the place Of that OF 1913. It ex-
tended the provisions Of that law. 1t has been
held by the court, however that it is no law as 1t
was not signed, or there is record Of its sigma
ture or course II 1t is no law It does not super.
sede the law OF '43 and the latter law is stlA in
town and In the county" said Mr.. Padgett. 81 am
prosecuting such cases all the time In the Police
Court"
THE WEST WASHINGTON LAW.
The law in force in West Washington Is the
Georgetown ordinance OF May 16, 1863 as follows:
THAT from and after the passage of this resolution
it shall not be lawful for any person within the limits
Of this co.poraton to sell any cigars tobacco confec
day, excepting drugs and medicines, and fresh fish
usually are" ~
This law, Mr. Padgett says. has been and is still
enforced.
PLENTY OF LAW FOR ACTION.
Mr.. Wheatley, after the conference to-day, said
70 a STAR reporter: ave have found plenty Of law
for our action"
Mr.. Webb, in referring to the law, called the at
tention OF STAR reporter to the section In the ex.
listing license law which says:
ThAt nothing contained In this act shall authorize
any person to keep his place Of business open on sun
DAY Tor the sale OF any merchandise whatever except
medicines in cases of necessity"
THE Law IN wEBRs DIGEST.
The old corporation Sunday law, e ret out IN
Webb's digest, is as follows:
I pf hDtal taro
restaurants are prohibited from selling sirituous s
titled or termsnted liquors on sunday, and are re-
CURED to have their bars other places where liquor
is usually sold closed Sunday during the entire dsy
and evening" and all keepers of tipping houses are
prohibited from selling any kind of spirituous dis
titled or fermented liquors Sunday and ara reo1fred
to have their houses closed Sunday durfng the a.
tire day and evening" and for the first violation OF INV
OF the Of this section the person or yer
sons offending shall be fined not less than twenty nor
more than forty dollars. and for the second offence
shall forfeit his, her or their license, which shall be
annulled by the mayor.
Sec - 1t shall be lawful for any person in thia
city to cry aloud any articles for sale the Sabbath
day except newspapers the crying aloud Of which Is
permitted until O'Clock OF that day; aud any person
or persona offending against this section shall ba liable
for each ohenee
Sec 3 It shall not be lawful for any pervou to tesp
place Of buainess the sale OF any article or
articles Of profit during the Sabbath day. exceptta
2potlecaries for the dispensing of medicines and I'm
dartakers for the purpose Of providing Tor the decd
or others Tor purposes OF charity and nocessty